Time value of shame...I mean money

Los Mets. Bernie Madoff and Fred Wilpon. The $25 million loan from MLB last season. Outstanding interest owed on Citi Field and declining attendance. Bobby Bonilla. Even if the prevalence of quality news sources like TCD covering the financial maladies of the Metropolitans and the Wilpons is on par with the prevalence of mind numbingly stupid free agent signings the organization has made over its history, the ongoing Bonilla saga - yes, I said ongoing, as in occurring presently - deserves as much attention as it can get. Especially from me.



In 2000, then Mets General Manager, and current sex addict, Steve Phillips (above, left to right, Phillips is white guy #1) decided that rather than pay Bonilla the $5.9 million left on his disastrous contact and be done with the fat, lazy and inept infielder forever, he would defer payments until the 2011 to 2035 period when Phillips would be in rehab and done with any sort of career forever. As a result, the Mets owe Bonilla 24 annual payments of more than $1.19 million per through 2035 for a total of $30 million. TCD's Phil will be 53 the last year the Mets pay Bonilla. Bonilla will be dead the last year the Mets pay Bonilla.

Clearly I do not much care for the Mets. And I don't like the Red Sox, who owe Manny about $2 million a year through 2026. I also have no problem admitting that the Yankees have made some disastrous personnel moves as well. Carl Pavano? Kevin Brown? Jaret Wright? And my favorite, "fat toad" Hideki Irabu. But the hits just keep on coming for the Mets. I don't think there is a team in professional sports haunted more by their past in the present than Los Mets. For the sake of the team and their fans, I hope Opening Day is kind to the Queens boys and that they somehow give the Phillies all they can handle this season.